A model for designing a University website that integrates usability and aesthetic attributes

• Main Author: Habee Bullah, Affandy
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: T58.5-58.64 Information technology
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/9508/1/depositpermission_s900996.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9508/2/s900996_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9508/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

An increased number of users using university websites has led to enhancement in the development of the website. This scenario has raised issues in web design specifically related to usability and aesthetic attributes. These are among two significant attributes of web design that have impacts on websites' performance. These two attributes should be integrated into the design process since they influenced one another. Existing studies showed that both correlates. Although both attributes are considered important in the web design process, existing studies on how to integrate them is not well researched. There are no detailed guidelines for developing websites which involve these elements, especially for a university website. This research developed a model for designing a university website that incorporates both usability and aesthetics attributes. This study used several approaches over the course of five phases. A theoretical study to ensure that the model developed was based on the right principles of web design, an empirical study to identify actual web design practices in universities, design and develop the model, model verification, and model validation through experts and user testing were among the five phases. The study has produced a model for designing a university website that integrates usability and aesthetics attributes. Through a user test, the model was able to assist web designers in designing an improved website in terms of web usability, pleasing aesthetics and improved user experience. The model also addressed the web design process in accordance with the quadrants in the Web Design Clock. The proposed model successfully expands the Three Pillars of Web Design and Norman’s Three Level of Design by providing a more detailed web design process and guidelines. It can assist web designer and practitioners to design an improved university website that integrates both usability and aesthetic attributes and improved user experience.